Page:The Early Kings of Norway.djvu/165

 MAGNUS THE GOOD* AND OTHERS. 155 crushed away from Norway into Heaven, universal odium more and more in that country. Well- deservedly, as still appears ; for their taxings and ex- tortions of malt, of herring, of meal, smithwork and every article taxable in Norway, were extreme ; and their service to the country otherwise nearly imper- ceptible. In brief their one basis there was the power of Knut the Great ; and that, like all earthly things, was liable to sudden collapse, — and it suffered such in a notable degree. King Knut, hardly yet of middle age, and the greatest King in the then world, died at Shaftesbury, in 1035, as Dahlmann thinks,* — leaving two legitimate sons and a busy, intriguing widow (Norman Emma, widow of Ethelred the Unready), mother of the younger of these two ; neither of whom proved to have any talent or any continuance. In spite of Emma's utmost efforts, Harald, the elder son of Knut, not hers, got England for his kingdom ; Emma and her Harda-Knut had to be content with Denmark, and go thither, much against their will. ... He departed at Shaftesbury, November 12, and they conveyed him thence to "Winchester, and there buried him. '
 * Saacon Chronicle says : * 1035. In this year died King Cnut.